St Thomas' Church, Stockport

St Thomas’ Church stands beside Wellington Road South in Stockport, a rectangular Greek Revival building of Runcorn sandstone. Its west end carries a tall clock tower topped by an open cupola, while the east front presents a portico of six Ionic columns. The church was designed by George Basevi, who later regretted the Commissioners’ imposed changes to its tower. Inside, three-sided galleries rest on fluted Corinthian columns that rise to the ceiling. The chancel, raised and balustraded, holds a marble reredos carved with the Annunciation. The church is Grade I listed and was one of the earliest Commissioners’ churches, receiving the only grant in Cheshire from the first parliamentary fund. Built between 1822 and 1825, it seated two thousand worshippers and was refurbished in 1881 and 1890. Its organ, built by Samuel Renn in 1834, was enlarged in 1868 and restored in 1890. Recent repairs have stabilised the roof and tower, and disabled access was added in 2014. Visitors enter beneath the portico through a central door that leads to the galleries, with flanking doors to vestries. The chancel’s semi-circular pulpit and brass eagle lectern face each other across the sanctuary. The south aisle contains St John’s Altar, moved from a closed mission church in 1941, and the north aisle serves as the Lady chapel. Stained glass from the late 19th century shows scenes from the life of Jesus, and the baptistery floor bears a mosaic of fishes.